ITEMS ON TARIFF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19764, 11 October 1927, Page 11

ITEMS ON TARIFF.

| TIMBER CLAUSE DEFERRED. PROTECTING LEMON GROWERS. - ALTERATION OF THE DUTY. [by telegraph.—press association.] ' WELLINGTON, Monday. The House went into Committee this evening on the Customs Amendment Bill for the purpose of further considering the tariff proposals. On clause 11, which makes special provision regarding tho duty on goods of a class not produced in British Dominions, the Minister of Customs, Hon. W. Downie Stewart, said representations had been made to him by objectors to the clause. He thought the clause was misunderstood. It was really introduced for the benefit of importers. He proposed to make an explanation to chambers of commerce, after which he anticipated the opposition would cease. Clause 13, making special provisions for computing the measurement of sawn dressed timber, was, on the motion of the Minister, suspended until after the schedules had been considered. The Minister said the parties interested had made further representations to the Government whether the clause sufficiently carried out what was desired. Further inquiries were to be made by the department, and the clause could be postponed until after the disposal of the schedules. The committee then proceeded to deal with the individual items in the schedule. Wheat and Flour. The proposals dealing with wheat and flour were not considered, the Minister explaining that it was proposed to make a slight amendment in the proposals. It was a difficult matter to adjust the position as between the farmer, the consumer, the miller, etc., and care had to be taken that no mistake was made. The Minister said it was proposed to group this and any other items postponed and ' deal with them at the one time. Mr. J. R. Hamilton (Awarua) said the Minister should impose a duty on oats if tiiey fell below 3s a bushel, otherwise Canada could smother tho oat-growing industry in New Zealand, as it did two seasons ago. The Minister said this point should have been raised before the Tariff Commission, but until now no complaint had been raised. The item was passed. Considerable discussion took place on chocolate confectionery, the desire being expressed to protect the local industry so long as there was an assurance that local prices were not raised. The item was agreed to. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. 11. E. Holland, referred to cocoa, and said the relative prices of British cocoa and foreign made it appear as if British preference to the former was resulting in the people being exploited. The Minister said cocoa was being manufactured in Christchurch, but he would get further information on the subject. The item was passed. The Duty on Lemons. An alteration in the duty on lemons was suggested, by the Minister. Ihe effect of the amendment is that foreign lemons would pay twopence a pound, except during the months from November to March, when the duty would fall to one pennv. The Minister said that amendment ought to protect the local consumers from a famine in lemons. He had seen telegrams which indicated that- C'alifornian lemongrowers intended to reduce their prices by the amount of the duty, but whether that was true or not he could not say. Mr. T. W. Rhodes (Thames) : Would not that be dumping ? The Minister said he did not think so, but he wanted to secure the South Island against a lemon famine. Auckland members generally approved the amendment of the Minister. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) said the fact was the Auckland lemon-growers had not made any effort to win the good opinion of people in the South by sending good lemons there. Mr. C. E. Macmillan (Tauranga) prophesied that within a few years the lemongrowers would become sufficiently strong j to enable them to compete without any j duty. The amendment was agreed to. On the item " egg pulp " the Minister j said he understood that since he had met • a deputation of poultry people he had j satisfied them that they were protected, j At all events he had not heard any further objections. The item was passed. Progress was then reported, the com- j mittee having passed Class 1. consisting of animals, agricultural products, foods, and groceries. !